Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Parenting a child who has very defiant behavior or who is diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is different than parenting a “typical kid”.

ODD is defined as: “a child or teen who has a frequent and consistent pattern of anger, irritability, arguing, defiance and often vindictiveness towards their parent(s) or other authority figures.”

Children who consistently behave in this defiant way towards parents and authority figures don't eventually comply with most limit setting or consequences. Why? Because kids with this level of defiance are focused on being in control. When extremely defiant kids are facing a limit or consequence, their acting out behavior escalates, sometimes violently.

ODD is a very challenging diagnosis that takes a certain set of parenting techniques. Our articles below show you ways to effectively parent a child with very defiant behavior or ODD.

Understanding Oppositional Defiant Disorder

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

20 Comments

Parents are often left wondering if their child’s argumentative, limit-testing, back-talking, rule-breaking behavior is “typical” teen or pre-teen defiance—or if it’s something else. What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)? Clinically speaking, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is “a pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior or vindictiveness lasting at least six months.” But what does that mean, exactly? Limit-testing behavior crosses... Read more »

My ODD Child is Physically Abusive to Siblings and Parents—Help!

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

12 Comments

Recently, there have been several stories in the news about violence in children and what can—and should—be done about it. A five-year-old boy was taken out of his Kindergarten class in handcuffs in Indiana, and the same thing happened to a six-year-old girl in Louisiana. Talk shows and the news media have been hosting shows on... Read more »

Oppositional Defiant Disorder: The War at Home

By James Lehman, MSW

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When Hunter was a baby, Pat never imagined parenting him would mean becoming trapped in an argument that would last 15 years. From the time he was old enough to express himself, it seemed that he was looking for a fight with her. “He’s a very strong-willed person,” says Pat, her polite demeanor belying an obvious... Read more »

Is Your Child Engaging in Delinquent Behavior? 4 Ways to Manage It

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

9 Comments

It seems whenever you turn on any news program there’s a frightening story about today’s youth: violence, vandalism, risky behavior and outright refusal to follow parental or societal rules. The fact is there have always been a certain number of people – youth and adults – who engage in criminal behavior, since the beginning of... Read more »

4 Ways to Handle Back-to-School Behavior Problems with Your ODD Child

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

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The start of every school year brings all sorts of images to mind: shopping for clothes and school supplies, getting back into a routine of dinner and bedtimes that may have become relaxed during summer, and relief from arguing siblings who have been stuck together 24/7 for the past three months. Many parents are relieved... Read more »

Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Sibling Fighting: 7 Things I Know Now

By Holly Fields

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When someone has Oppositional Defiant Disorder, age is irrelevant.  The sibling roles, even as adults, are ingrained after a lifetime of training.  Both of my children are back home now -- my daughter having graduated from college and now working to pay off student loans, and my son working his way through school to avoid... Read more »

We Got a Diagnosis for Our Child—Now What? ADHD, ODD, LDs and More—What a Diagnosis Means for Your Child

By James Lehman, MSW

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A diagnosis is an important piece of the puzzle we are trying to solve when we try to help kids with disabilities learn how to function. Many parents are relieved when they get a diagnosis for their acting-out, “problem child” because they see it as a guideline for the future. They think, “Now we’ll know... Read more »

The Oppositional, Defiant Teen: How James Lehman tackles the toughest behavior disorder (Excerpted from Transform Your Problem Child)

By James Lehman, MSW

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This week, read about an oppositional, defiant teen in James Lehman’s compelling book, Transform Your Problem Child. Meet the parents and family of Caleb, who have been dealing with their son’s behavior since he was a young child, and “raising their tolerance for deviance” with each instance of acting out. When Caleb gets physically abusive,... Read more »

ODD Kids: Consequences That Work for Oppositional Defiant Children

By Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW and Kim Abraham, LMSW

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Are you a parent who feels like you’ve tried everything—and failed—in an attempt to manage your oppositional, defiant child? You’re not alone. Parenting an ODD kid can be one of the most frustrating things any parent faces. The good news is that there is hope. You may be thinking, “Yeah right, nothing can help my kid!” While it’s... Read more »

When ODD Kids, Entitlement Mentality and Verbal Abuse Collide

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

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Over the years, as technology has evolved and material things have become more readily available, our society has developed a strong sense of “the wants.” In this modern world, we don’t like to wait for things like computers, cars and houses—delayed gratification is a thing of the past. Our children have embraced this sense of... Read more »